Unemployment in Washington dropped slightly in September, while overall job growth rose, according to data from the state’s Employment Security Department.
The state’s unemployment rate in September was 8.5 percent, down from a revised August estimate of 8.6 percent. Officials estimated 1,200 jobs were added in September.
Washington’s unemployment rate in September was above the national rate, which was estimated at 7.8 percent.
An initial estimate of 1,100 lost jobs in August has been revised to reflect a gain of 2,500 jobs during that month, according to state officials.
While overall job numbers have risen statewide through 2012, the growth rate has fallen each month since May, when more than 11,000 jobs were added.
By the numbers
-Leisure and hospitality industry led job gains (up 3,900).
-Government jobs rose by 2,700—most of which were in education.
-State agency jobs dropped by 1,000.
-Industries with seasonally adjusted losses included manufacturing (down 1,300), retail trade (down 1,100), other services (down 900), transportation, warehousing and facilities (down 900), wholesale trade (down 900) and financial activities (down 500).
-About 296,000 (seasonally adjusted) were unemployed and looking for work, including 126,080 who claimed unemployment benefits in September.
-Also in September, 3,223 unemployed people ran out of benefits.
-Since extended benefits were activated in July 2008, 111,892 people in Washington have exhausted their unemployment.
Contact Evan Marczynski at evan@bbjtoday.com or call 360-647-8805.
